WARNING: Brief, disjointed thoughts ahead.
Things (well, just a few of the many, many things) on my mind this month: Thanksgiving — in Canada, we celebrate in October. Gratitude. The paths we take and the ones we left behind that still make us wonder, What if? Choices. Colours. How we see the world, and others, and ourselves. The parts of our lives we show people. The parts we hide.
We make choices every day. Some are small, like which path to take through a park. But for many of my friends over the past month or two, life is throwing them major forks in the road. It’s like there’s something in the air. The winds of change. And maybe I feel them, too.
The Colours of my Heart
So, I did some weekend thrifting with my sister and found this original painting, likely by a street artist for tourists. Believe it or not, I almost didn’t get it, but she, and the amazing colours, convinced me and in the end I brought it home. Looks pretty darn good in the study, too, now that I’ve got it on the wall.
What do you think? Did I make the right choice? Is this a good buy?
All About the Muse
Very excited to once again have work published by Pinhole Poetry! Find my new poem “Pierre and Marthe” inside Issue 4.3.
This poem was inspired by the 2023 film Bonnard: Pierre and Marthe, which explores the relationship between the famous Post-Impressionist French painter Pierre Bonnard and his model, muse, and eventual partner and wife Marthe. Equally tumultuous as passionate, the complicated dynamics between them are underpinned by love and an understanding and acceptance of each other. Pierre was unfaithful. Marthe experienced episodes of mental illness. And yet, they grew, and grew old, together, moving from Paris, to the countryside, to the South of France. From unabashedly jumping into the Seine naked near their country house in younger years, to their last days together at Le Cannet, Pierre working on his renowned paintings of flowering almond trees. The line “Enterre-moi” comes from the film; Marthe asks Pierre to “bury her” – that is, for her to die first – because she can’t bear to be without him. And ultimately, she does. When she passes in their bed, he picks up the book she was reading and closes her eyes after seeing them for the last time. It was this scene in particular, overlaid with flashbacks of his memories of their time together, which kindled the poem.
New for November
I’ve got another new poem coming out in November with Stripes Literary Magazine! Watch for a link next month.
In the Wild
There’s a new book-shaped addition to the local art shelf at Gigi’s Cafe in Victoria! 👀
I can’t help glowing when I’m at their Writers’ Open Mic Night. I love this little meetup so much.
And here’s another sighting of Provenance Unknown —
I spy with my little eye …
Phoebe Farag Mikhail’s October reading list also includes my book! In case you don’t know, it’s a story about archives, local history, family secrets, an old French diary, an intriguing but infuriating Frenchman, and fun and frivolity in Paris. 😃
Storytelling Talk
📣 📣 Attention fellow history/archives/genealogy nerds!
Here’s the full listing to date of Victoria Genealogical Society’s new season. Check out all the workshops, seminars, heritage history hours, and other events on offer (including one by yours truly on January 31)
As part of research for my archives + storytelling workshop coming up in January, I’m looking for examples of strong but simple storytelling in GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, museums) institutions. Blog? Podcast? Website? Something different? Send them my way! I’d love to share them with workshop participants.
If you’re a family historian who’s found a great way to share your story, I would be especially interested in hearing from you.
Location, Location
I’ve been checking out locations for the Victoria portion of my current novel. I’m thinking this would also make a great writing spot!
Les Bouquinistes
Victoria’s Castles by Paul G. Chamberlain
Paul is a local Victoria author whom I was lucky enough to meet at Gigi’s Cafe open mic night.
The subtitle of this book is: A Brief History of Lovers, Madmen, Millionaires, and Ghosts on Canada’s Imperial Margins. That’s enough to get anyone’s attention, not just an archivist’s! And an excellent choice for spooky season.
“More than a book about the grandiose architecture of these fascinating & impressive edifices, Victoria’s Castles tells the true stories of the flesh and blood people who dreamt of them, designed them, lived, loved fought, died and sometimes went quite mad in them – all the while piling up their millions in Canada’s imperial margins.”
As always, thanks for reading. Merci!
Sonia
Sonia Nicholson 